Wiltshire

Wiltshire's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 470,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Wiltshire increased by 8.8%, from just under 433,000 to 471,000.

The addition of about 38,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wiltshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wiltshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wiltshire increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South West and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 15,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 10,000.

About 12% of people in Wiltshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Wiltshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Wiltshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Wiltshire, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Wiltshire, the proportion of single people increased from 25% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Wiltshire fell from 57% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wiltshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Wiltshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wiltshire decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wiltshire, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Wiltshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 13% to 10%.

During this period, Wiltshire overtook eight local authority areas, including East Devon and Isles of Scilly, to become the South West local authority area with the third-highest percentage of long hours workers.

Long hour working was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

Wiltshire saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (9.0%) households in Wiltshire had a single parent, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 43% to 40%.

Across the region, only South Gloucestershire saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 7.5% to 9.4%).

During this period, Wiltshire overtook 15 local authority areas, including Tewkesbury and Somerset West and Taunton, to become the South West local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of single-parent households.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Wiltshire with children remained close to 30% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 62%, while the percentage of households in Wiltshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 8.7%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 28% in 2001 to 27% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Wiltshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. An increase from 16% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Wiltshire.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Wiltshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 330,000 in 2001 to just over 300,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 32,000 to just over 36,000 (from 7.3% to 7.7%).

About 2,400 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 1,500 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Wiltshire increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Wiltshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wiltshire

The percentage of Wiltshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Wiltshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.9% to 7.0%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 90% in 2001 to 89% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wiltshire

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Wiltshire.

The percentage decreased at a similar rate to the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wiltshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,200 in 2001 to about 6,200 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 2,800 to just under 5,600 (from 0.7% to 1.2%).

About 3,200 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,100 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wiltshire decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Wiltshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Wiltshire, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Wiltshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Wiltshire increased from 14% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Wiltshire increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wiltshire, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Wiltshire

The percentage of employed people changed very little in Wiltshire, while the proportion fell in Test Valley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Wiltshire).

In Wiltshire, the proportion of employed people decreased from 58% in 2001 to 57% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Test Valley decreased from 60% to 58%.

Across the South West, the share of employed people increased from 53% to 53%.

The rate of unemployment in Wiltshire increased from 2.0% to 2.9%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 10% to 11%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Wiltshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 2.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wiltshire remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Wiltshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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